Tubing pipe sizing tool

ABSTRACT

A tubing pipe sizing tool is provided, comprising a main body, a measuring portion, a handle-installing hole, a bump portion, and a handle. The measuring portion is provided on a first part of the main body in a first direction. The handle-installing hole is provided on a second part of the main body in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The bump portion is provided around an opening of the handle-installing hole. The handle is configured to engage the handle-installing hole and facilitate pipe sizing. The main body may have a cylindrical shape, and the bump portion facilitates to handle the tool.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/243,096 for “Tubing Pipe Sizing Tool” filed on 22 Aug. 2016.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tubing pipe sizing tool.

In plumbing, sizing tubes is an important job for the plumber to do frequently and conventionally.

The above cannot be true when the work environment is narrow or crowded places. In such a limited space, the plumber cannot use two hands or bulky tools. Therefore, it would be very grateful if the plumber can do his or her works with a single hand or an inventive tool that enables the user to use a single hand to do the job done.

Accordingly, a need for a tubing pipe sizing tool has been present for a long time considering the expansive demands in the everyday life. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art.

An object of the invention is to provide a tubing pipe sizing tool, which facilitates the plumber's job in sizing the pipes.

An aspect of the invention provides a tubing pipe sizing tool, comprising a main body, a measuring portion, a handle-installing hole, a bump portion, and a handle.

The measuring portion is provided on a first part of the main body in a first direction.

The handle-installing hole is provided on a second part of the main body in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

The bump portion is provided around an opening of the handle-installing hole.

The handle is configured to engage the handle-installing hole and facilitate pipe sizing.

The main body may have a cylindrical shape. However, it is not limiting. For example, the outer shape can be a polygon as long as it accommodates the other components such as the measuring portion.

The measuring portion may be provided along a central axis of the cylindrical shape of the main body.

The measuring portion may comprise a measuring cylinder portion protruding in the first direction for measuring a first size or inner diameter of an external pipe.

The measuring portion may comprise a measuring tube portion extending in the first direction for measuring a second size or outer diameter of an external pipe.

The handle-installing hole may be bored into a side of the cylindrical shape of the main body.

The handle-installing hole may comprise a helical female thread provided on the inner surface of the handle-installing hole.

The handle may comprise a helical male thread on an end portion of the handle, so as to engage the helical female thread of the handle-installing hole.

The main body, the measuring portion, and the handle-installing hole may be made monolithically.

The main body, the measuring portion, the handle-installing hole, and the handle may be made of metal.

The bump portion may have a cylindrical shape protruding in the direction of the handle, configured for being hit loose by an external force.

The measuring portion may comprise a measuring tube portion extending in the first direction for measuring a second size or outer diameter of an external pipe, and the measuring tube portion has a specific measuring depth.

The measuring tube portion have a measuring length along the entire length of the measuring portion, so that the measuring tub portion is used bidirectionally and all the way through.

The measuring tube portion may be provided with a plurality of diameters and lengths.

The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the tubing pipe sizing tool according to the invention enables the user to measure the sizes of pipes in a difficult condition; and (2) the tubing pipe sizing tool according to the present invention provides means to make handling of the tool easy and convenient.

Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tubing pipe sizing tool for measuring an outer diameter of a pipe according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tubing pipe sizing tool for measuring an inner diameter of a pipe according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tubing pipe sizing tool for measuring an outer diameter of a pipe with a handle installed according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of the tubing pipe sizing tool for measuring an outer diameter of a pipe of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective side view of a tubing pipe sizing tool for measuring an inner diameter of a pipe of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective side view of a tubing pipe sizing tool for measuring an outer diameter of a pipe of FIG. 3 according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a conceptual side cross-sectional view showing a tubing pipe sizing tool for measuring an inner diameter of a pipe according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a conceptual side cross-sectional view showing a tubing pipe sizing tool for measuring an outer diameter of a pipe according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a conceptual side cross-sectional view showing a tubing pipe sizing tool for measuring an outer diameter of a pipe with a stop according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a conceptual side cross-sectional view showing a tubing pipe sizing tool for measuring an outer diameter of a pipe without a stop according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a tubing pipe sizing tool for measuring an inner diameter of a pipe according to an embodiment;

FIG. 12 is another perspective view showing the tubing pipe sizing tool of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is still another perspective view showing the tubing pipe sizing tool of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 is still another perspective view showing the tubing pipe sizing tool with a handle disassembled from a main body of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/243,096 is incorporated by reference into this disclosure as if fully set forth herein.

Referring to the figures, the embodiments of the invention are described in detail.

An object of the invention is to provide a tubing pipe sizing tool, which facilitates the plumber's job in sizing the pipes.

FIGS. 1 through 6 show various tubing pipe sizing tools according to embodiments of the invention, and FIGS. 7 through 10 show how the tubing pipe sizing tools are used in a couple of situations.

An aspect of the invention provides a tubing pipe sizing tool 100, comprising a main body 10, a measuring portion 20, a handle-installing hole 30, a bump portion 35, and a handle 40 as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 7, and 8. Alternatively, in FIGS. 2 and 5, the tubing pipe sizing tool 100 for measuring inner size comprises a main body 10′ and a measuring portion 20′.

The measuring portion 20 (20′) is provided on a first part of the main body 10 (10′) in a first direction.

The handle-installing hole 30 is provided on a second part of the main body 20 (20′) in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

The bump portion 35 is provided around an opening 30′ of the handle-installing hole 30 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The handle 40 is configured to engage the handle-installing hole 30 and facilitate pipe sizing.

The main body 10 (10′) may have a cylindrical shape. However, it is not limiting. For example, the outer shape can be a polygon as long as to accommodate the other components such as the measuring portion.

The measuring portion 20 (20′) may be provided along a central axis of the cylindrical shape of the main body 10 (10′).

The measuring portion 20′ may comprise a measuring cylinder portion protruding in the first direction for measuring a first size or inner diameter of an external pipe 900 as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 7.

Alternatively the measuring portion 20 may comprise a measuring tube portion extending in the first direction for measuring a second size or outer diameter of an external pipe 900 as shown FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8.

The handle-installing hole 30 may be bored into a side of the cylindrical shape of the main body 10 (10′) as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The handle-installing hole 30 may comprise a helical female thread provided on the inner surface of the handle-installing hole 30 as shown indirectly in FIG. 8.

The handle 40 may comprise a helical male thread 42 on an end portion of the handle 40, so as to engage the helical female thread of the handle-installing hole 30 as shown in FIG. 8.

The main body 10 (10′), the measuring portion 20 (20′), and the handle-installing hole 30 may be made monolithically.

The main body 10 (10′), the measuring portion 20 (20′), the handle-installing hole 30, and the handle 40 may be made of metal.

The bump portion 35 may have a cylindrical shape protruding in the direction of the handle 30, configured for being hit loose by an external force. Sometimes, when the plumber inserted the tool 100 in the external pipe 900, the tool 100 may be stuck in there. If the space is small or crowded, it is very challenging to retrieve the tool 100 from the pipe 900. In such a situation, the handle 40 helps a lot, and next the bump portion 35 can be a simple solution. If the bump portion 35 be hit by a hammer or so, the tool 100 can be loose and retrieved.

The measuring portion 20 may comprise a measuring tube portion extending in the first direction for measuring a second size or outer diameter of an external pipe, and the measuring tube portion has a specific measuring depth as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8.

The measuring tube portion have a measuring length along the entire length of the measuring portion, so that the measuring tube portion can be used bidirectionally and all the way through as shown in FIG. 10. This features can be very useful in a copper coupling without a stop. As far as the inventor knows, there has been no such a convenient tool for the specific job.

Alternatively, the measuring tube portion may comprise a stopper 29 provided at a rear end thereof, so as to limit the insertion of the pipe 900 into the measuring tube portion.

The measuring tube portion may be provided with a plurality of diameters and lengths. The diameter may include a half inch, three quarters inch, one and a quarter inch, etc.

A preferably set of tools for sizing of pipe of one specific diameter may contain a first tool 100 for measuring an inner diameter of pipe, a second tool 100 for measuring an outer diameter of pipe (a short one or a first length or depth), a third tool 100 for measuring an outer diameter of pipe (a long one or a second length or depth), and a handle 40.

FIGS. 11-14 show pictures of a tubing pipe sizing tool according to an embodiment in a couple of views, in which detailed structural features according to a specific embodiment are shown clearly.

Another embodiment provides a tubing pipe sizing tool, in which the measuring portion 20′ further comprises a cusp-cut cone portion 50′ provided on an end of the measuring cylinder portion as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The cusp-cut cone portion 50′ is configured to guide the measuring portion 20′ into the pipe to measure the inner diameter thereof.

In addition, the measuring cylinder portion may be formed so as to meet the main body perpendicularly as shown by the reference numeral 12′ as shown in FIG. 13. This feature is for facilitating fitting and measuring the external pipe. The user may be able to find easily if the tool fits the pipe or not.

The tubing pipe sizing tool may further comprise a roughened surface portion 110′ provided on an outer surface of the main body 10′. The roughened surface portion 110′ may comprise a plurality of elongated bump line portions 112′ forming a criss-cross pattern. The plurality of elongated bump line portions 112′ may be configured to be hold by a finger with a certain friction. The plurality of elongated bump line portions 112′ may be formed with a two dimensional array of rectangular bumps 114′ as shown in FIG. 12.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. 

1. A tubing pipe sizing tool comprising: a main body; a measuring portion provided on a first part of the main body in a first direction; a handle-installing hole provided on a second part of the main body in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a handle engaging the handle-installing hole fixedly and facilitate pipe sizing, wherein the main body has a cylindrical shape, wherein the measuring portion is provided along a central axis of the cylindrical shape of the main body, wherein the measuring portion comprises a measuring cylinder portion protruding in the first direction for measuring an inner diameter of an external pipe.
 2. The tubing pipe sizing tool of claim 1, wherein the handle-installing hole is bored into a side of the cylindrical shape of the main body, wherein the handle-installing hole comprises a helical female thread provided on the inner surface of the handle-installing hole.
 3. The tubing pipe sizing tool of claim 2, wherein the handle comprises a helical male thread on an end portion of the handle, so as to engage the helical female thread of the handle-installing hole.
 4. The tubing pipe sizing tool of claim 1, wherein the main body, the measuring portion, and the handle-installing hole are made monolithically.
 5. The tubing pipe sizing tool of claim 4, wherein the main body, the measuring portion, the handle-installing hole, and the handle are made of metal.
 6. The tubing pipe sizing tool of claim 5, wherein the measuring portion further comprises a cusp-cut cone portion provided on an end of the measuring cylinder portion.
 7. The tubing pipe sizing tool of claim 6, wherein the measuring cylinder portion is formed so as to meet the main body perpendicularly.
 8. The tubing pipe sizing tool of claim 5, further comprising a roughened surface portion provided on an outer surface of the main body.
 9. The tubing pipe sizing tool of claim 8, wherein the roughened surface portion comprises a plurality of elongated bump line portions forming a criss-cross pattern.
 10. The tubing pipe sizing tool of claim 8, wherein the plurality of elongated bump line portions are configured to be hold by a finger with a certain friction. 